CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 – Difficulty level,marks vs percentile, weightage
CMAT 2024 was conducted on May 15, 2024, in two slots between 9 AM to 12 Noon (Slot 1) and 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM (Slot 2). Based on student reactions and expert opinions from IMS mentors, we’ve conducted a detailed CMAT exam analysis for 2024. Visit this link to get an overview of the CMAT exam analysis of the first slot. For the second slot, read on below.
Read More – CMAT Exam Analysis – Slot 1
Based on preliminary reviews, the difficulty level of the CMAT slot 2 exam was pretty much the same as the first slot. Most questions were easy to attempt without having to worry about time constraints. However, a few questions in the General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship sections were challenging and required extra effort.
We’ve included a detailed CMAT exam analysis and question breakdown below.
CMAT exam analysis – Test Overview
The structure of the test and estimates of good attempts are as follows:
| Section | No Of Questions | Marks per Question | Maximum Marks | Good Attempts | Overall LOD |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 4 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 4 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 4 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy |
| General Awareness | 20 | 4 | 80 | 11-12 | Medium |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 20 | 4 | 80 | 11-12 | Medium |
| Total | 100 | 400 | 70-75 |
- The test had no sectional timing.
- Incorrect responses invited negative marks (-)1 for each incorrect response
CMAT 2024 Analysis – Our verdict
Overall, our CMAT exam analysis revealed that the difficulty level of slot 2 of CMAT 2024 was similar to that of CMAT 2024 slot 1 (morning slot).
As is the case generally with CMAT, this time too, time was not a constraining factor. Some of the questions in the five sections were sitters. However, some questions in both the General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship sections were challenging. They could become the decisive questions and impact the overall percentile. Based on the feedback received from IMS candidates and experts, we expect the following cut-offs in CMAT 2024:
| Score | Percentile |
| 295 – 305 | 99.5+ |
| 275 – 285 | 99 |
| 255 – 265 | 95 |
| 235 – 245 | 90 |
| For B-School cut-offs, see Note ** at the end | |
Read More – CMAT Cutoff 2024
CMAT exam analysis – Section-wise breakdown
Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation:
This section was relatively easy in terms of Difficulty level. Out of 20 questions in the section, 3 were on Data Interpretation, and the remaining 17 were on Quantitative Techniques. A set of 3 questions on Data Interpretation consisted of questions based on Tables and Pie Charts. Most questions on Data Interpretation involved simple calculations.
Our CMAT exam analysis showed that the questions on Quantitative Techniques were dominated by Arithmetic. Out of 15 questions on Quantitative Techniques, 7 were on Arithmetic, which included questions on Percentages, Ratio-Proportion, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Mixtures, and Algebra. There were 4 questions on Geometry, 3 questions on Modern Math, 2 on Numbers, and 1 on Algebra. Most of the questions on Quantitative Techniques were easy.
| Area | No of Questions. | Details | |||
| Easy | Medium | Difficult | Total | ||
| Arithmetic | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | Percentages, Ratio-Proportion, Mixtures, Time & Work, Profit & Loss |
| Geometry | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Triangles, Mensuration, Circles |
| Modern Math | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | Probability, Permutation – Combination |
| Numbers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Surds |
| Algebra | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Linear equations |
| Data Interpretation | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Table + Pie chart (Set of 3 questions) |
Around 16-17 attempts in this section with 80% accuracy would be good.
Read More – Top colleges accepting CMAT Scores – Fees, placements, cutoffs
Read More – CMAT Answer Key 2024
Logical Reasoning:
Based on our CMAT 2024 analysis of the second slot, out of the 20 questions in this section, 14 were on Non-Verbal Reasoning, and 6 were on Verbal Reasoning. All the questions were standalone, and there were no set-based questions.
The questions on Nonverbal Reasoning were spread across different topics in Logical Reasoning, such as Directions, Series Completion, Counting the number of squares, Arrangements, Family Trees, Coding, etc. The questions on Verbal Reasoning included Syllogisms, strong/weak arguments, assertion-reason, analogy, odd one, etc.
The questions were not lengthy and many questions were straightforward and very easy to solve.
| Area | No. of Qs. |
| Directions | 2 |
| Series Completion | 2 |
| Counting the number of squares | 1 |
| Clocks | 1 |
| Calendars | 1 |
| Family Tree | 1 |
| Coding | 1 |
| Counting of numbers | 2 |
| Arrangements (Linear & Circular) | 2 |
| Visual Reasoning | 1 |
| Verbal Reasoning | |
| Syllogisms, strong/weak arguments, assertion-reason, analogy, odd one etc. | 6 |
Around 16-17 attempts in this section, with 80% accuracy, would be a good attempt.
Language Comprehension:
The Language Comprehension Section consisted of 2 Reading Comprehension questions and 18 Non-RC questions. Most questions were easy to answer.
| Area | No. of Qs. |
| Reading Comprehension | 2 |
| Vocabulary – Synonym, antonym, FIBs, idioms, match the following, etc Grammar – FIB, Identify the correct statement, direct/indirect speech, classify the sentence, question tag, etc Verbal Reasoning – PJ ( 4 statements) | 18 |
Around 16-17 attempts in this section with 80% accuracy would be good.
General Awareness:
Our CMAT exam analysis showed that General Awareness was a comparatively harder section. Out of the 20 General Awareness questions, 18 were based on Static GK, and 2 were on Current Affairs. The majority of questions were based on Indian events. The questions were on Sports, the constitution, history, books and authors, physics, geography, etc. Overall, this section was of medium difficulty level.
10 to 11 attempts in this section with 80 % accuracy would be a good attempt.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
Out of the 20 questions, 15 were based on Business and Entrepreneurship concepts (Nascent Entrepreneur, phases of funding, reasons for failure, etc.), and 5 were on Business GK. Overall, this section was of medium difficulty level.
10 to 11 attempts in this section with 80 % accuracy would be a good attempt.
**Note:
CMAT exam analysis – Approximate cutoffs for CMAT-based colleges
The following B-School admissions (based on CMAT score) generally close at these percentiles:
MMS Programs – (All India Seats)
JBIMS – 99.99 percentile
Sydenham – 99.95+ percentile
KJ Somaiya – 99.94
Welingkar Institute Of Management- 99.9
PGDM Program
Great Lakes, Chennai – 90 + percentile + profile based
GOA Institute of Management – 95+ percentile
KJ Somaiya – 95 + percentile
IFMR – 85 + percentile
NIBM – 90 + percentile
Welingkar Institute Of Management – 70 + percentile (eligibility) + profile based
CMAT 2024 analysis FAQs
- What was the difficulty level of the CMAT 2024 exam?
The difficulty level was rated as easy to moderate with the General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship sections being the harder ones.
- How many marks do I need in CMAT 2024 to get 99.5 percentile?
Students need to score 295-305 marks to get 99.5 percentile.
- What percentile will I get in CMAT 2024 if I score 250 marks?
With 250 marks, you can expect around 90 percentile in CMAT.
- What is a good score on CMAT 2024?
A good score can be considered to be between 250 and 345 marks.
- Is 200 a good CMAT score?
A good score in CMAT is generally considered to be 250+.